D.C. streetcars coming back?

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) is expected to announce Wednesday that the city has found enough money to restore funding for street car service in the District. Earlier Wednesday, the council approved taking $49 million from the streetcars to use to balance city's budget and help fund other projects. That vote effectively delayed the launch of the streetcars by two years.

Thanks for the asinine comment, patio100, that contributes absolutely nothing. Apart from "looking cool", what did the Chairman stand to lose politically? He has the votes from Benning already (let's see Fenty win that area) and 20-somethings heading to H St. for weekend-nights out might be outraged, but hard choices had to be made. I'm glad to see Chairman Gray had the courage to actually TAKE a stand, and while I am happy the funds have been found to restore the project, getting a nifty cable car to running down the H St./Benning Corridor isn't a terribly high priority given the other challenges facing the District right now.

I wouldn't call the initial comments asinine. The fact of the matter is that Gray has shown that he is wiling to kowtow to the lowest common denominator of the "old guard" of District politics (with good buddy Phil Mendelson in tow).

Announcing such a significant policy shift in good concert with Bob Irsay of the Baltimore Colts, and then shifting back after receiving hundreds of calls and emails in protest is outrageous.

One either has a vision for the city and implements it, or else they are a pol. Mr. Gray has simply demonstrated he is the latter.

This whole episode shows that Vince Gray cannot be trusted to say what he thinks.

In 2006, before Colby King supposed that hating young people was good politics, here's what Gray said about the streetcar: "These opportunities, especially those that connect the city, help chip away with the geographical and psychological isolation that residents east of the river feel," Gray said. "It also sends a message that the areas that have been neglected are now becoming a priority." http://tinyurl.com/32j8b7m

Today, to score political points, Gray tried to kill the streetcar. And later in the same day, to score political points, Gray tried to say he saved the streetcar.